Ezekiel 38 through 39 tells of
a future invasion of Israel by a vast coalition of nations that surround
it. As we read the headlines in the newspapers of today, and witness the
conflict in the Middle East, it's not hard to imagine that this invasion
prophesied over 2600 years ago, could be fulfilled in our lifetime.
Ezekiel 36-37 predicts a gathering of the Jews to the nation of Israel,
which will be followed by this massive invasion. For 19 centuries the
Jewish people were scattered throughout the world, and until May 14, 1948
there was no nation of Israel to invade. With the nation of Israel now a
reality, the stage seems set for the war that will usher in the
tribulation and the rise of the Antichrist; a war that will end with the
destruction of Israel's enemies by God Himself, and lead to the signing of
a peace treaty with the Antichrist.

As you read Ezekiel 38 and 39,
it isn't just the creation of the nation of Israel that makes this
prophecy seem likely to be fulfilled in the near future. The nations that
God tells us will form this coalition against Israel seem more likely now
than perhaps ever before to form just such an alliance. To understand the
prophecies of Ezekiel about this future invasion, it's important to
understand who the players will be.

There are many theories as to
who will join in this future invasion of Israel. Before going through a
list of the individual nations, I'll list some of the more common theories
you'll hear when studying the prophecies from Ezekiel 38.

Ezekiel 38:1-6
The word of the Lord came to me; Son of man, set your face against Gog, of
the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against
him and say: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, O
Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks
in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army - your horsemen fully
armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them
brandishing their swords. Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all
with shields and helmets, also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth
Togarmah from the far north with all its troops - the many nations with
you.'

1. Hashemite Kingdom
Theory: The Islamic Nations will come against Israel either by an
Iraqi-led, Jordanian led, or Turkish led coalition. The enemy from the
north refers to the areas of Syria, Turkey, and Iraq. These Islamic
nations make up the lands occupied by Magog, Gomer, Togarmah, Meshech and
Tubal.

2. Caucus Theory: Gog
and Magog are the Arab nations in an alliance with the Muslim republics of
the former Soviet Union. This theory leaves out most of Russia, and
includes only the southern part.

3. All Europe theory:
Gog and Magog are the sons of Japeth thus the originators of the European
races. Gog and Magog therefore indicates all of Europe. This is not a
widely held theory and I could find little support for it.

4. Russian Theory: The
Hebrew word 'rosh' in verse 3 is identified with Russia, 'Tubal' with
Tiblisi or Tobolsk and 'Meshech' with Moscow, therefore Gog and Magog
refers to Russia. This is one of the most commonly held views and is
based on a different interpretation of the Hebrew word Rosh (used as a
noun rather than adjective), similarities in the pronunciation of words,
and the Greek translation of Rosh referring to a tribe of people found in
what is now Russia.

5. Indo-European Theory:
Gog and Magog include the nations descending from Japheth: Russia, the
Caucasus(Turkey), Iraq, and the Islamic republics of Central Asia. The
coalition is an alliance of Arab nations, Muslim republics, Georgia,
southern Russia and the Black sea area.

These are some of the theories
you will find if you do any research into the prophecies of Ezekiel 38.
You may also find interpretations that are a combination of these, and in
fact, I tend to find more evidence for a version of the Indo-European and
Caucacus Theory.

Before looking at the
participants of this invasion in more detail, it's important to understand
that the war described in Ezekiel 38 is not the same as the war that will
come at the end of the tribulation when Jesus returns to defeat the
Antichrist and establish his millennial kingdom. How do we know this?
The war at the end of the tribulation, known as Armageddon, is a world
war. Revelation tells us that this battle will involve all nations. The
war described in Ezekiel includes specific nations that invade Israel.
Also, Armageddon is at the climax of the tribulation, while the war
described in Ezekiel comes well before then.

Ezekiel 38:1-7 gives 10 names
as participants in the invasion of Israel that will follow the regathering
of the Jews to their homeland. First mentioned, is the land of Magog.
The most common identity for Magog is in Central Asia. The Jewish
historian Josephus said, "Magog founded the Magogians, called Scythians by
the Greeks. Scythians were a nomadic tribe who inhabited the ancient
territory from Central Asia across the southern part of ancient Russia."
Today this area is inhabited by the former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and possibly northern
parts of Afghanistan. All of these nations that make up the land of Magog
have one thing in common - Islam. Militant Islam has been on the rise in
these countries since the fall of the Soviet Union, when Islam no longer
had to be practiced secretly. Radical Islamic groups such as the Islamic
Renaissance Party, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and Hizb ut-Tahrir
al-Islam are working to reunite central Asian nations and ultimately the
entire Muslim world. It is from this part of the world that a leader will
arise to bring together a great coalition of nations to invade Israel.

Probably the most debated verse
is Ezekiel 38:3. There are two main views on the identity of the Nations
God is referring to in this verse. I'll list both here, and let the
reader decide which sounds most reasonable.

Rosh as Russia

Some versions of the Bible
translate the Hebrew word 'rosh' in verse 3 as a noun referring to a place
in Russia. The least credible support for this view is that Rosh sounds
like the modern-day name Russia and Meshech sounds like Moscow. In this
translation they treat rosh as a proper name. The Greek translation
translates Rosh as the proper name Ros. Because the ancient Sarmations
were known as the Ras, Rashu, and Rus and inhabited Rasapu which is now
Southern Russia, some feel this verse points to Russia as the prince of
Rosh. Another support sited for this view is that verse 6 and 15 say the
invasion will come from remote parts of the north, and Russia is more
remote.

Rosh as chief

Other versions of the Bible
translate 'rosh' as an adjective. The argument here is that in the
Massoretic text the words 'chief prince' carry the accents Tiphha and
Zaqeph-gadol. The Tiphha appears under the resh of the Hebrew word 'rosh';
the Zaqeph-gadol appears on top of the sin of the Hebrew word 'nish'. The
Tiphha to the right, underneath the initial consonant of the world 'rosh',
or chief, is prepositive and does not mark the tone syllable. The world 'nish'
or prince has the accent Zaqeph-gadol which is disjunctive and indicates a
pause. So, verse three would read:

"Behold, I am against thee, o
Gog, the prince, {pause} chief of Meshech and Tubal"

Rather than:

"Behold, I am against thee, O
Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal."

Here 'rosh' is translated head
or chief as it is 423 other times in the Old Testament.

In short, if you believe 'rosh'
should be translated as a proper noun you may find the interpretation that
Russia will be a part of this coalition more reasonable. If you believe 'rosh'
should be an adjective here, you need only concern yourself with who
Meshech and Tubal are. I tend to have a problem with the "it sounds like
Russia" theory, and find the translation of rosh as an adjective more
believable, but to each his own.

Meshech and Tubal in verses 2
and 6, were the names of the 6th and 5th sons of Japheth, the son of Noah
(Gen. 10:2). Ezekiel 27:13 also mentions Meshech and Tubal as trading
partners with Tyre (Modern Lebanon). It's likely that Meshech and Tubal
refer to the ancient Moshi/Mushki and Tubalu/Tibareni who dwelled in the
area around, primarily south of, the Black and Caspian Sea in Ezekiel's
day. Today these nations would be in the modern country of Turkey, parts
of Southern Russia and Northern Iran. All areas with a Muslim majority.

Verse 6 adds Gomer and Beth-Togarmah
to the coalition. "Gomer" was the first son of Japheth. The Gomerites
were the ancient Cimmerians, expelled in 700 B.C. from the southern
steppes of Russia into what is today Turkey. "Togarmah" is the 3rd son of
Gomer and beth at the beginning of the name is the Hebrew word for
'house' or 'place of'. In Ezekiel's time there was a city in Cappodocia
(Modern Turkey) known as Tegarma, Tagarma, Til-garimmu, and Takarama.

The possibility that four of
the names mentioned in Ezekiel are now in Turkey makes a pretty strong
argument for Turkey being a part of the invasion of Israel. Current
circumstances in that country also lend this view some credibility. Since
the break-up of the Soviet Union, Turkey has been gaining inroads into
Central Asia (Magog). It is also linked to Central Asia both ethnically
and linguistically, and has a growing number of political parties that
support opposition to Israel, establishment of a Turkish Islamic Republic,
and the worldwide rule of Islam.

Verse 5 brings three more names
into the mix. God tells us that "Persia, Cush and Put will be with
them".

Persia is a pretty easy one.
In 539 B.C. the Persians conquered the city of Babylon. You only need
look at a map of the ancient Persian Empire to see that it was centered in
the nation known today as Iran. In fact Iran was called Persia until 1935
when it was changed to Iran and then to the Islamic Republic of Iran in
1979 during the Iranian Revolution. It's no secret that Iran is an
archenemy of Israel and the West, and a supporter of the Palestinians.
They are actively working to get other Arab countries to change camps in
their cooperation with the U.S. and Israel.

The ancient kingdom of Cush in
Ezekiels time was the land just south of Egypt on the Nile River. Today
this land is occupied by Sudan. Sudan is home to the National Islamic
Front, is ruled by an Islamic military dictatorship, a strong supporter of
Iraq, home to Osama bin Landen from 1991-1996, and harbors countless
Islamic terrorist groups. Sudan would easily fit into the coalition as it
is already close allies with Iran, trading military supplies for docking
rights on the Red Sea shipping routes.

Ancient Put was the land just
west of Egypt, or what is today Libya. Libya is another sponsor of
terrorism, and openly refuses to recognize Israel's right to even exist.
When the coalition against Israel is formed, Libya won't have to be asked
twice to join.

Verse 6 adds "and many people
with you." The nations listed specifically are all somewhat distant from
Israel. By adding "and many people with you", God may have been
indicating that those nations and peoples in closer proximity to Israel
will join the Jihad. Other nations that might join the alliance are Iraq,
Syria, Jordon, and Egypt. All of them are Islamic nations, and all of
them would not hesitate to support the destruction of Israel were the
opportunity to join such a vast coalition presented to them.

Below is a list of the nations
that are listed in Ezekiel as Israel's last-days enemies:

ANCIENT NAME

MODERN NATION

EXPLANATION

Rosh

Russia or Chief

Ancient Sarmatians known as
Rashu, Rasapu, Ros, and Rus.

OR

Translated as the adjective
Chief.

Magog

Central Asia

Ancient Scythians - Islamic
southern republics of the former Soviet Union with a population of 60
million Muslims. This territory could include modern Afghanistan.

Meshech

Turkey

Ancient Muschki and Musku
in Cilicia and Cappadocia.

Tubal

Turkey (also southern
Russia and Iran)

Ancient Tubalu in
Cappadocia.

Persia

Iran

Name changed from Persia to
Iran in 1935.

Ethiopia (Cush)

Sudan

Ancient Cush, south of
Egypt.

Put

Libya

Ancient Put, west of Egypt.

Gomer

Turkey

Ancient Cimmerians - from
the seventh century to first century B.C. in central/western Anatolia.

Beth-togarmah

Turkey

Til-garimmu - between
ancient Carchemish and Haran (southern Turkey).

Many peoples with you

Other Islamic nations

Possibly Iraq, Syria,
Jordan, and Egypt

The reasons God gives us for
the enemies' invasion of Israel are further proof that the attack will be
an Islamic invasion.

The first reason God gives for
the invasion in Ezekiel 38 is a desire by the coalition to cover the
Jewish land and wipe them off the face of the earth. Urged on by a hatred
of the Jewish people they will seek to destroy them and the nation of
Israel. This is the stated goal today of almost every Islamic nation in
the Middle East. The only nations not currently in a declared state of
war with Israel are Egypt, Turkey, and Jordan, yet they would certainly be
glad to see Israel eliminated if presented with a willing leader and an
opportunity to rid the Middle East of Islam's archenemy.

God tells us that they also
come to "seize plunder…and to capture great spoil". Many verses in the
Quran advocated plundering for the benefit of Islam and there are several
instances of this war tactic throughout the history of Muhammad's life.
In fact, it is a common theme in his teachings.

This invasion of Israel and
attack on the Jewish people will indeed be a Jihad, but it will also be
the final Jihad.

Ezekiel 38:13 "Sheba and Dedan
and the merchants of Tarshish with all its villages will say to you, 'Have
you come to capture spoil? Have you assembled your company to seize
plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to
capture great spoil?'"

As this invasion develops, a
few countries will make a lame protest. This isn't hard to believe when
you look at the indifference most nations display as Israel is repeatedly
attacked by terrorists.

The specific nations who
question Gog's actions are "Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish".
Sheba and Dedan are not hard to identify. These were ancient names for
what is known today as Saudi Arabia.

Tarshish is most commonly
agreed to be ancient Tartessus or the area of present day Spain in Western
Europe. In Ezekiels day, Tarshish was in the farthest west regions of the
known world. By referring to Tarshish and all her merchants, Ezekiel
could have been indicating that Western Europe will join with Saudi Arabia
in denouncing the invasion. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia is the only Arab
nation to consistently side with the West against radical Islamic elements
around the world. The royals of Saudi Arabia mostly side with the West
out of an interest in self preservation, and at times oppose us behind the
scenes, but they would most probably put on a show of opposition to
radical Islam in order to maintain the support of western governments.

A similar alliance has been
seen once before during the Gulf War of the early 1990's. The U.S.,
Western Europe, and Saudi Arabia were allied against Iraq, while Russia,
Iran, Sudan, Libya, and most other Middle East nations either aligned with
Iraq, or against the U.S. either by directly opposing it, or by remaining
neutral.

The good news is that God
wins. God will come against the invaders Himself and destroy them.
Verses 19-20 say that there will be an earthquake so great that people all
over the world will tremble. In the ensuing chaos, nations will begin to
turn on each other. The confusion will lead to the largest case of death
by friendly fire ever seen.

Verse 22 of Ezekiel tells us
that there will be plagues, torrents of rain, hailstones, and burning
sulfur. Just as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, he will destroy these
invading forces. Once again, God will make it known to all the nations
that He is the Lord. He will give the nations proof that He is the Holy
One in Israel.

This war against Israel will
pave the way for the Antichrist's military rule over the world and his
demand that the world worship him as God. With Islam defeated and the
Christian Church raptured, opposition to worshipping a man as God will be
greatly reduced. Those who are left would have no army with which to
mount much of a protest.

So, how should Christians
respond to this prophecy? In Ezekiel 39:6,7, and 28 God says that this
end-times battle will happen that "they will know that I am the Lord".
This message that God's purpose is to cause Israel and the other nations
to know He is Lord is repeated over 60 times in Ezekiel. By learning
about prophecy and teaching it to others, people will be able to see the
glory, majesty, and sovereignty of God in the fulfillment of His divine
word. By knowing our Bible and teaching it to others, they will be able
to see that there is a divine creator, and a plan for them. Through Jesus
Christ and the salvation he offers us freely, there is victory and an
eternity more glorious than they can imagine.